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Have a Family Skate Date at LA’s 6 Coolest Rinks

With the miracles of modern technology, ice rinks can exist is sunny LA without turning into swimming pools! So strap on the skates, channel your inner Gretzky or Dorothy Hamill (hold the haircut!) and check out these awesome seasonal ice rink pop-ups, perfect for a family skate date.

photo: Holiday Ice at USS Iowa

Holiday Ice on the USS Iowa
It’s a battleship! It’s a skate rink! It’s both! All aboard the USS Iowa for a family skate date floating in the Port of Los Angeles. The fantail of the battleship-turned-museum has been magically transformed into an outdoor skate rink for the holiday season. Make a whole day of it and explore the historic ship first, then stay for a skate when the rink opens every evening.

Extras: Save some time to explore the North Pole Village set up in front of the USS Iowa on weekend nights all through December. Kids can meet Santa, you can snack on treats, like cookies and hot cocoa, and there’s a special mailbox set up where you can all write letters to send to troops overseas.

Details: Weekdays there are two skate sessions from 5–8 p.m. and 8:30–10:30 p.m. Weekends the sessions are from 4-7 p.m. and 7:30–10:30 p.m. The rink is open until January 8. Starting December 19th hours switch to the weekend hours daily. Admission is $12 for kids 6 & under and $16 for 7 & up. Admission price includes skate rental. The rink is also available for birthday parties and private events.

L.A. Kings Holiday Ice At LA Live
Grab your little hockey fans and head to L.A.’s largest outdoor ice skating rink nestled outside the home of the L.A. Kings. Your skating tykes can imagine they’re scoring one for the home team at Staples Center, while you whirl around the rink and admire the twinkling lights of the 66-foot Christmas tree towering in the center of the ice.

Extras: VIP tickets are $35 and send you straight to the front of the line, which can be long at this popular spot.

Holiday Ice at Topanga
This year the Topanga rink, (along with four others including the USS Iowa and LA Live rinks) is sponsored by the LA Kings and features classes to inspire your own future pro skaters. Nestled in the parking lot of the Westfield Promenade Shopping Center on Topanga, this rink is the perfect spot to burn off some energy after you’ve dragged your tots around the mall for holiday shopping all afternoon. Make a full evening of it and grab some dinner at one of the restaurants at the Village after.

Extras: In addition to two and four-week intro to ice skating lessons for kids (and adults) of all ages, the rink also has ice hockey lessons at the Lil Kings Holiday Ice Clinic every Saturday morning.

Details: Weekdays the two skate sessions are 5–8 p.m. and 8:30-10:30 p.m. Weekends the two sessions are 4–7 p.m. and 7:30-10:30 p.m. The rink is open November 12 – February 20. From Dec. 19 – Jan. 8 hours switch to the weekend hours every day. Admission is $13 for kids (6 & under), and $17 for adults (7 & over) and includes skate rentals. VIP tickets, guaranteeing a spot on the ice, are available for $35 and can be purchased in advance online.

ICE at Santa Monica
This ocean-side rink is skating into it’s tenth season of being the only place in town where your mini ice dancers can celebrate the holidays just blocks from the beach. If you plan it right, and load yourself up on caffeine, you could actually splash in the Pacific and go ice skating all in the same day, for a true only-in-LA adventure. If you’d rather just stick with skating, then enjoy a few loops around the rink and cozy up with some hot chocolate from the snack bar or walk around the corner to the 3rd Street Promenade for a bite.

Extras: If your pint-sized skaters are looking to get more serious about their ice skills, sign them up for weekly lessons at the rink through the Randy Gardner School of Skating. Beginner and advanced group classes are available on Sunday mornings.

Details: Mon.-Thurs. 2-10 p.m., Fri. 2 p.m.-midnight, Sat. 10 a.m.-midnight and Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., thru Jan. 16. Holiday hours vary. Admission is $15 including skates. There are no skate supporters available here, but there is a mini Tot Rink next to the main one for younger skaters to practice in.

The Rink in Downtown Burbank
With adorable ice skating aids and unlimited skate time, this is easily the best ice rink in LA for your youngest skaters. The bright orange, seal-shaped skate aids are tons of fun for skating newbies who could use a helping hand staying upright on the ice. Afterwards, stop in at the Holiday Market next door to check out the seasonal handicrafts, grab some snacks and enjoy the festive sounds of caroling.

Extras: Do your first time skaters need a lesson to get started? Sign up in advance and head to The Rink on Saturday mornings, when kids 5-15 years old can get skate lessons for $20, which includes skate rental and admission after. If you’re a little rusty yourself, stick around for the adult lesson (16 years & up) after.

Pershing Square
Go for a skate surrounded by the glittering lights of downtown’s skyscrapers at historic Pershing Square. Besides the surrounding skyline, what makes this rink truly unique is all the wonderful events it hosts, from DJ nights on Thursdays to curling classes, there’s a ton of fun to be had for skaters of all ages.

Extras: Besides DJ Spotlight Thursdays and Learn To Curl, you can also ring in the New Year wearing your swimsuits for a Polar Bear Skate.

Details: Mon.–Thur. from 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Fri. from 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Sat. from 10 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m.. Holiday hours vary. Open November 10–January 16. General admission tickets are $9 and skate rentals are $4. You can also rent a skate helper for $6.